Indianapolis, IN. – The Indiana State Chapter of the Non-Resident Nepali Association NCC of USA organized an interaction here on Sunday to drum up public support for NRN movement and fielded Gopendra Bhattrai from the State of Indiana as a candidate for General Secretary in the upcoming elections of NRN NCC of USA for the 2019-2021 term.

During an interaction, the Indiana-based Nepali Diaspora from various walks of life applauded the work of the State Chapter during its less than a two-year stint in office and suggested tofurther consolidate the community members by educating them on the importance, objectives, and accomplishments of NRN NCC of USA, working in tandem with the local organizations and launching programs that benefit a larger section of the Nepali community living in the state of Indiana and beyond.NRN NCC of USA Board of Director Gopendra Bhattrai,Indiana Chapter President Rajeev Shrestha, and Chapter Secretary Devi Raman Pandit highlighted the accomplishments of NRN NCC of USA and Indiana State Chapter, and addressed questions raised by the participants of the interaction. President of the Nepali Association of Indiana (NAI) Suresh Regmi and NRNA Indiana Advisor Ramhari Neupane, among other participants, had expressed their views at the program.  

At the same program, NRN NCC of USA Board of Director Gopendra Bhattrai announced his candidacy for General Secretary in the upcoming elections of NRN NCC of USA. Bhattrai’s candidacy was proposed by Ramhari Neupane and supported by Dhruba Ghimire. Addressing the gathering, Bhattrai committed to working for vertical “integration of NCC with ICC and State Chapters,” launching programs for youth and women empowerment and establishing community centers to cultivate educational and cultural skills of the Nepali Diaspora. Bhattarai further stated that he would work with the ICC and other communities for the “promulgation of laws pertaining to the continuation of Nepali citizenship and Nepal-US Tax Treaty.”

At the event, NRNA Indiana State Chapter collected donation for the treatment and long-term care of Prayas Baniya, who was seriously injured and is undergoing treatment in the UniversityHospital in Louisville, KY, following a shooting at aconvenience store on Feb. 21.  Another Nepali and the owner of the store, Subash Ghale, was shot dead when a gunman opened fired at him. More than $500 has been raised and the State Chapter is reaching out to more people for support, according to NRNA Indiana president Rajeev Shrestha.